Mail-bag catcher.



No. 707,267. Patented Aug. l9, I902.

G. W. SMITH.

MAIL BAG CATCHER.

(Application filed May 1, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Witnesses. Inventor.

Attorney.

Patented Aug. l9, I902.

6. W. SMITH.

MAIL BAG CATCHEB.

(Application filed May 1, 1901.

2 Sheets-Shaet 2.

(N0 Model.)

. II n I! 1 M H Mm m a J u MW Att orney.

.. FNUHKnH W Witnesses.

THE Ncmms PETERS c0. PHum-umo, WASHINGTON, n. c.

l UNITED STATES" PATENT ()FFICEJ GEORGE W. SMITH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER.

.SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 707,267, dated August 19, 1902. Application filed May 1,1901. seal-t1 No. 53.293. woman.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. SMITH, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to provideimprovedmail-loagcatchinganddelivering devices adapted particularly for catchthe mail-bags which are delivered from between the tracks of a double-track road or within reasonably close proximity to the track on which runs the car supporting the catcher, although capable of use in other positions.

Heretofore it has been customary to provide a bag-catching arm supported upon a rod extending transversely of'the doorway of the mail-car intermediate its height, said arm projecting laterally from the car in a horizontal plane; but this construction necessitates not only the employment of a verticallyextending crane or holder for the bag of. sufficient height to reach nearly to the center of the doorway of the car, but the lateral projection of the catcher-arm is so great that it is not practical to use same between the tracks of a double-track road unless the tracks are separated more widely than at present, as the catcher-arm is liable to come in contact with cars on the adjacenttrack.

. Another objection to the catcher now in.

use is that the bar supporting it tends to obstruct the doorway more or less, and when the catcher is not in use in order to permit ingress and egress to and from the car said supporting-rod and the catcher must be removed.

'WVith the object in view of obviating the objections heretofore noted and others and to provide an improved device which has been found by practical use to be adapted for the purpose I arrange the supporting device for the catcher-arm a snfficient distance from the center of the doorway to leave the latter practically unobstructed and arrange the catcheror bag-holding device.

arm to extend in a vertical plane when receiving a mail-bag.

The invention further consists in certain improvements in the catcher and the bagsupport hereinafter described and the'novel features pointed out particularlyin the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mail-car, showing the application of my improved catcher and in connection with the improved form of crane ings, 1 indicates the mail-car,having the usual side-door opening, and arranged above the latter is a longitudinally-extending bar or support 53, secured by brackets 3 on the car, upon which rod or way is arranged a frame supporting the bag-catcher, said frame in the present instance being constructed of fiat metal and. embodying an upper yoke-frame 5 and the depending arm or bar 7, the former having its ends bent over and around the bar or su pport 2 and provided with rollers6, journaled on studs between the proximate sides thereof and grooved to correspond with the contour of the rod, so that the frame may move freely longitudinally of the rod or support and also, swing laterally thereof, as shown. The depending arm or extension 7 is also preferably constructed of .fiat metal and has at its lower end a socket formed in a casting 8, in which is received a projection or stud 9 of a heador castinglO, to which the catcher-arm is secured. The stud 9 is held in position in the socket or recess by a key 11 intersecting an annular groove formed in the stud, as shown in Fig. 4, thus permitting the rotary adjustment of the head 10 in the socket, but preventing its removal. The head 10 is provided with oppositely-arranged recesses Fig. 2 is a vertical or notches 12, with which is adapted to engage a spring-operated latch-piece 13 to hold the head with the catcher-arm projecting in either direction. The head 10 is provided with a laterally-extending arm 14 and beneath this with a socket, in which is arranged an abutment 15, preferably of rubber or similar yielding material, and at the lowerend of the casting are arranged cars 16, between which is pivoted a lug or extension formed upon the inner end of the catcher-arm 17. This pivotal connection between the catcher arm and the head 10 permits the former to hang in a vertical position whether the supporting arm or bar is against or away from the side of the car, the movement upon the pivot being limited by suitable stops between the parts-such, for instance, as by the lug or projection 18 on the catcher-arm operating in a recess 19, formed on the head, as shown in Fig. 4:. The catcher-arm is usual slightly curved or inclined at its inner edge which engages the bag, so as to permit some latitude of vertical movement to the car and still insure the proper engagement with the bag, and is therefore in the present arrangement inclined relative to a horizontal plane. The rear end of the catcher-arm is slotted and provided with a pivoted retaining arm or lever 20, pivoted at 21 and having its segmental rear end provided with notches 22, with which is adapted to engage a springactuated latch 23, said retaining-arm being normally in the position shown in Fig. 3; but when the rear end thereof is engaged by the mail-bag it will be thrown to the position shown in dotted lines in said figure and retained by the latch, this general construction being substantially the same as that shown in myprior patent, No. 497,391. The catcher head or casting 10 is provided upon opposite sides with loops or eyes 24, with which are adapted to engage a hook upon one end of a tension member, preferably in the form of a chain 25, the other end of said member being also provided with a similar hook adapted to engage a loop or eye 26, arranged at the side of the door-casing, as shown in Fig. 2, a loop or eye being arranged upon the opposite side of the door-casing for engagement with the said hook when the catcher is reversed and the car is moving in the opposite direction. Normally or when the device is not in position for catching mail-bags the frame 5 7 and the catcher thereon hang close against the side of the car, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the chain 25 being engaged with the forward loop or eye 26, as shown; but when adaptedto catch a mailbag supported with its waist or constricted portion in substantially horizontal position the catcher-arm is swung out to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, and there held until the bag is caught and retained by the retaining-arm on the catcher, as will be understood.

As a means of operating the frame of the catcher toward and from the side of the car I provide a toggle-lever, one member preferably pivoted to the side of the car and the other to the arm or frame 7, whereby the operator within the car may by straightening the toggle hold the frame outward. In the present arrangement I secure upon the arm 7 a plate having pins or projections 27 projecting from opposite sides, and at each side of the doorway of the car I arrange a bracket having a pin 28 thereon, and the toggle embodies the parts or members 29 and 30, pivoted together at 31, and the part 29 having an aperture at its end and adapted for the reception of the pin 27 on the frame and the part 30 being provided with an aperture adapted to receive the pin 28 on the doorcasing, as shown particularlyin Fig. 5. The toggle member 30 is further provided with a projection or stop 32, extending beyond its pivot and adapted to engage the under side of the bar 2!) when the toggle is flexed with its members substantially in line, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby holding the catcher-frame extended and preventing accidental movement. This toggle-arm may be disengaged from the catcher-frame and from the doorcasing and moved to either side of the dooropening, as may be required, when the car is going in either direction.

It will be understood that the catcherframe may be moved to either side of the door-opening and is always located at the rear side relative to the direction of movement of the car, as shown in Fig. 1, the force of the impact ot'the bag being taken by the tension member or chain 25, thereby relieving the supporting-arm 7 of torsional strain and permitting it to be constructed of relatively light material. Inasmuch as the catcher-arm extends forwardly and its forward and rear ends are in a substantially vertical plane, though its general surface is inclined relatively to a horizontal plane by reason of the fact that its forward end is the lower and its surface is substantially parallel with the side of the car, it is capable of being used to catch mail-bags placed upon suitable supports be tween the tracks of double-track roads and but a comparatively short distance from the side of the car.

The bag-holder with which my catcher is adapted to cooperate is shown in Fig. l and embodies a suitable stand or base 40, having at its upper end a socket or bearing 41, extendingin aplane transverse of the track, in which socket is swiveled or pivotally mounted a bearing-piece forming part of or secured to a pivoted vertically-swinging frame embodying the upwardly-extending arms 42, slightly separated for the passage of the catcher-arm between them and provided with saddles or yokes &3 at the upper ends, upon which the mail-bag (indicated by 4.4:) is supported. This pivoted frame is provided with one or more yielding spring-arms 45, extending below the pivot and provided with the recessed blocks 46, adapted when the frame is in a vertical position to yieldingly engage the sides of the standard 40 and hold the frame vertical, said spring arm or arms yielding, however, and permitting the frame to turn on its horizontal pivot after or when the bag is removed bythe catcher, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 1.

The friction exerted between the spring arm or arms 45 andthe standard is sufficient to hold the frame and bag elevated under ordinary circumstances; but, as stated,one or both of them will yield and permit the frame to be turned down when the bag is removed-or in case the catcher or any portion thereof should touch it.during the delivery of the bag. The supporting-arms .42 of the crane or bag-holder diverge below their upper end, so that there is little or no liability of their being struck by the catcher-arm, which passes between them when removing the bag. The bag-holder is admirably adapted for use in connection with the form of catcher shown-and is cheapand simple in construction and not liable to get out'of order.

By supporting the bag-catcher at the upper portion of the door and upon. a-rod or support on which it is movablelongitudinally of the car and providing: a reversible catcher thereon I am enabled to move the catcher outof the way during the loading and unloading of the car without removing it from its support and to leave the doorway free and unobstructed. 1

Other means than the toggle shown could be employed for holding the catcher-arm in operative position away from the side of the car; but I prefer a toggle or some operating device which is readily moved by the oper-' ator and does not necessitate his holding it whenthe bag is caught.

It will of course be understood that the catcher as a whole could be mountedon a stationary frame and the bag received from a moving car by delivery devices such as shown or otherwise constructed. I claim as my invention' 1. The combination with a car having an opening in the side and a support above the latter and extending longitudinally of the car,

of a suspended frame movable on the support and capable of swinging laterally of the car,

and a bag-catcher mounted on the frame.

- 2. The combination with a car having an opening in the side and a support above the latter extending longitudinally of the car, of a suspended frame movable longitudinally on the support andcapable of moving laterally of the car, and a reversible bag-catcher arm mounted on the-frame and adapted to be extended in either direction substantially parallel with the side of the car.

3. The combination with a car having an opening in the side and a support above the latter, of a suspended'frame movable on the support longitudinally of the car and capable of moving laterally thereof, a reversible bagcatcher on the frame, and a tension member extending between the catcher and the car on the opposite side of the'opening from that on which the catcher is located.

4. The combination with a car having an opening in the side and a support extending parallel with the side of the car and removed from the opening, of a suspended frame movablelongitudinally of the support and capable of swinging laterally thereon and a bag-' catcher on the frame.

5. The combination with a car having an opening in the side, and the support at the upper portion of the opening and extending longitudinally of thecar,of a suspended frame movable longitudinally upon the support andcapable of swinging laterally thereon, a bagcatcher mounted on the lower end ofthe frame and means for swinging the catcher toward and from the side of the car.

6. The'combination with a car, ofa frame pivoted at'its upper end on the car and capable of swinging on the pivot laterally of the.

car, and amail-bag catcher at the lower end of the frame having the forwardly and downwardly projecting'catcher-arm.

7. The combination with a car, of a frame pivoted at'its upper end'on the car andlc'apa bleof swinging-on the pivot laterally of the car, and a'mail-bag catcher at the lower end of the frame having the forwardly and downwardly projecting catcher-arm, and the bagretaining device at the inner end of said arm.

8. The combination with a car, of a-bagcatcher thereon movable bodily laterally of the car and embodying a forwardly-projecting catcher-arm extending downwardly in a plane substantially parallel with the car side.

9. The combination with a car, of a bagcatcher thereon movable bodily laterally of the car and embodying a forwardly-projecting catcher-arm extending downwardly in a,

plane substantially'par'allel with the car side and a bag-retaining device at the rear end of said arm.

10. The combination with a car, of a ba catcher thereon movable bodily laterally of the car and embodying a forwardly and down'-' wardlyprojecting catcher-arm, and a tension member connected to the catcherand to the car. g I

11. The combination with a car,and a frame pivoted thereto to "swing'laterally therefrom, of a mail-bag catcher embodying a forwardly 1 and downwardly extending catcher-arm pivoted at the free'end of the frame on a horizontal pivot extending substantially parallel with the side of the car.

12. The combination with a car,and a frame movable laterally therefrom, of a mail-bag catcher pivoted on said frame on a horizontal 1 axis extending in a'planesubstantially parallel with'the side of the car. I

13. The combination with a car,and a frame movable laterally therefrom, of a reversible mail-bag-catcher. arm pivoted on said frame on a horizontal axis extending in a plane substantially parallel with the side of the'car.

14. The combination with a car, and a frame pivoted thereon to swing laterally therefrom, of a mail-bag catcher on the free end of said frame embodying a forwardly and downwardly extending catcher-arm pivoted on an axis extending in a plane substantially parallel with the side of the car.

15. The combination with a car, and a frame pivoted thereon to swing laterally therefrom, of a mail-bag catcher mounted on the free end of the frame, and a toggle having its members pivoted to the car and frame respectively for swinging and holding the frame with the catcher toward and away from the side of the car.

16. The combination with a car, and a frame pivoted thereon to swing laterally therefrom, of a mail-bag catcher mounted 011 the free end of the frame,and a toggle flexible in one direction only and having its members pivoted to the car and frame for swinging and holding the frame with the catcher away from the side of the car.

17. The combination with a car, a support extending parallel with the side of the car, a suspended frame adjustable longitudinally of the support and capable of swinging laterally, a reversible mail-bag-catcher arm mounted on the free end of the frame and having its inner bag-engaging surface inclined relative to a horizontal plane.

18. The combination with a car, and a frame pivoted thereto at the upper end, of a bagcatcher arm pivoted on the end of said frame on a horizontal axis parallel with the side of the car.

19. The combination with the car,-and a frame pivoted thereon, a reversible head mounted on the free end of the frame, and a catcher-arm pivoted on the head on an axis parallel with the pivot of the frame.

20. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination with a support, and a suspended frame pivoted thereon, of a bag-catcher mounted on the free end of the frame and embodyingacatcherarm movable bodily transversely of the support and having its bag-engaging surface inclined relatively to a horizontal plane when in operative position.

21. In a mail-bag catcher, the combination with a support and a frame pivoted thereon, of a bag-catcher mounted on the free end of the frame and embodying a catcher-arm pivoted on an axis parallel with that of the frame and having its bag-engaging surface inclined relatively to a horizontal plane.

22. The combination with a support, and a frame pivoted thereon at its upper end, of a head mounted on the free end of the frame having a laterally-extended arm, and a bagcatcher arm pivoted to the head on a substantially horizontal axis and extending in the same direction as the arm on the head.

23. The combination with the car having the opening,the rod supported above the opening, and the frame movable longitudinally on the rod and capable of swinging thereon, of

a reversible bag-catcher arm connected to the free end of the frame, a tension member connected thereto and to the car and means for swinging the catcher outwardly and holding it.

24:. The combination with the car having the opening, the support, the frame sliding and swinging thereon and a catcher-arm on the free end of the frame, of a toggle'arm detachably connected to the frame and to opposite sides of the opening in the car.

25. The combination with the car, having the opening, the frame movable across the opening and swinging toward and from the side of the car and having a bag-catcher at its free end, of atoggle-arm one member of which is detachably connected to the frame, and engaging devices on opposite sides of the door with which the other member of the toggle is adapted to be detachably connected.

2b. The combination with a car and a bagcatcher laterally movable therefrom and embodying a catcher-arm extending in the direction of movement of the car and when in operative position having its bag-engaging surface inclined relative to a horizontal plane, of a relatively stationary bag-holder embodying two separated substantially vertically extend ing bag-supporting arms between which the catching-arm passes when removing the mailbag therefrom.

27; The combination with a car having a mail -bag catcher thereon embodying the catching-arm extending in a vertical plane, of abag-holder embodying a support and vertically-extending separated bag-holding arms between which the catcher-arm is adapted to pass, said arms being pivoted to turn on the support on a horizontal axis at right angles to the movement of the car.

28. In a bag-holder, the combination with a support or standard, the frame journaled therein on a horizonal axis and having two vertically-extending and separated supporting-arms on which a bag is held, and means for yieldingly holding the frame with the arms in vertical position.

29. In a bag-holder, the combination with the base or standard, of the frame pivoted therein on a horizontal axis and embodying the vertically-extending separated arms and the spring-arm arranged between the frame and standard for holding the frame yieldingly with the arms in vertical position.

30. In a bag-holder, the combination with the base or standard, of the frame pivoted thereon on a horizontal axis and embodying the vertically-extending separated arms, the spring-arm mounted on the frame and frictionally engaging the standard to hold the frame yieldingly with the arms extending vertically.

GEORGE W. SMITII.

Witnesses:

E. A. MARSH,

G. WILLARD RICH.

ICC 

